Tepi Sungai

Our rating:

Tepi Sungai have five cute bungalows with great river views. Perched on the banks of Sungai Unda, a mix of brick and tile and wooden bungalows are set in a lovely flowering garden edging a pool, and allow you to be lulled to sleep by the sounds of the running river.

Wooden bungalows are stilted and sit above fish ponds, and both styles provide similar modest facilities. Wooden beds are mosquito netted and sport quality mattresses, however the clean white sheets and runner don’t quite provide enough warmth for the cooler evenings here; we found ourselves covering up with towels on our stay (luckily they were fluffy and large).

Poolside rooms. Photo: Sally Arnold

Simple wooden furnishings vary from room to room, but don’t offer any storage. Pedestal fans are supplied in each bungalow. Plenty of power outlets and sensibly places switches will keep your gadgets charged. Rooms are cleanish, however we heard other guests complaining of dust under the bed. Semi-outdoor attached bathrooms are much larger in the wooden bungalows and add a tub in some. Both supply warm-water showers but don’t expect hot hot, and as with the rooms, the level of cleanliness will only upset the fastidious. Furnished balconies are shady and staff are happy to serve breakfast there or in the riverside restaurant. Free WiFi is supposedly available, however it was not working when we visited.

The restaurant’s excellent location is unfortunately its only strong point. Prices are a little high for the basic menu by Bali standards, but seem to be standard prices in Sidemen. Food we tried here was not up to the standard of other local places (it may have been an off day) — so we’d suggest sticking to drinks and eating elsewhere. A smallish swimming pool surrounded with spurting statues enjoys the same stunning river views as the restaurant, with a handful of shaded sun lounges, arranged for more river gazing. If you are travelling with small kids (or clumsy adults), be aware of the unfenced sheer drop from the pool deck to the rocky river below.

A cute wooden room. Photo: Sally Arnold

Staff are friendly, but a bit vague, and English is a little lacking. We had some problems with a leaky toilet and light bulbs out, and the staff looked at the issues and agreed they needed fixing, but nothing more was done. However a problem with hot water was fixed promptly. We loved the riverside location, but others may find it a little far from the relative hubbub of Sidemen, as it sits on the opposite side of the bank to Tabola village, about a 20-minute walk from where most other hotels and guesthouses are located. At the time of our visit in June 2016, a bridge that had been damaged for sometime was under repair, and access was a very roundabout drive.

Restaurant views. Photo: Sally Arnold

Tepi Sungai offers excellent deals on booking sites, making it a superb value flashpacker choice, however they were reluctant to reduce much higher walk-in rates. If you love the riverside location, but would like somewhere a bit fancier, cross the river to Darmada. Or if it’s a budget option you’re after, Lihat Sawah offer some basic rooms starting at 250,000 rupiah for a single (walk-in rates only).

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